Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

Founded	January 1, 1979
Headquarters	1900 Main St. Lee P. Brown Administration Building Downtown Houston, Texas
Locale	Houston (Texas, United States)
Service area	Harris County
Service type	Bus Service, Light Rail, Paratransit Services, Express Lanes
Routes	75 local bus routes 32 commuter bus routes 3 light rail lines
Stops	9,100
Destinations	Downtown Houston Uptown Houston Memorial City Greenspoint Westchase Energy Corridor Texas Medical Center Johnson Space Center University of Houston Texas Southern University Rice University University of Houston–Downtown University of St. Thomas Houston Baptist University Houston Community College Lone Star College San Jacinto College Bush Intercontinental Airport Hobby Airport NRG Park Greenspoint Mall Houston Galleria West Oaks Mall Sharpstown Mall Gulfgate Mall Memorial City Mall Willowbrook Mall Northline Mall Baybrook Mall Northwest Mall Almeda Mall
Hubs	20 transit centers 27 park and rides
Stations	39 (light rail) 12 (bus rapid transit)
Fleet	1,250+ (bus) 37 (light rail) 140+ (paratransit)
Annual ridership	80,540,307
Fuel type	Diesel, CNG, Diesel-electric hybrid
Operator	METRO
Website	http://www.ridemetro.org

The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (often referred to as METRO) is a major public transportation agency based in Houston, Texas, United States. It operates bus, light rail, bus rapid transit, and paratransit service (under the name METROLift) in the city as well as most of Harris County. METRO also operates bus service to two cities in Fort Bend County. The METRO headquarters are in the Lee P. Brown Administration Building in Downtown Houston.

The Texas State Legislature authorized the creation of local transit authorities in 1973. In 1978, Houston-area voters created METRO and approved a one-cent sales tax to support its operations. METRO opened for business in January 1979, taking over the bus service owned by the City of Houston known as HouTran. HouTran was plagued by outdated equipment, infrequent service, and a route structure which failed to account for Houston's rapid population growth.

METRO's service area encompasses 1,285 square miles (3,330 km²) and also serves portions of an eight-county region with its vanpool service; the agency employs about 3,800 people.

Tom Lambert is the current President and CEO of the agency. Shirley DeLibero served as President and CEO of METRO from 1999 until 2004. DeLibero was recruited to METRO by then-mayor Lee Brown, and was previously executive director of New Jersey Transit. Her tenure was marked by the introduction of the METRORail light rail transit system and passing of the 2003 light rail expansion plan referendum.

DeLibero retired in the spring of 2004 and was replaced by Frank Wilson, a 30-year transit executive who had been president of AECOM Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based engineering consulting firm; Wilson had also previously been general manager of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) in Northern California and was the Commissioner of Transportation for the State of New Jersey. Wilson arrived as the mayoral administration of Bill White replaced that of the term-limited Brown. In May 2010, Wilson signed a deal to terminate his employment as METRO president and chief executive officer.

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